Dana White fearful that increased drug testing would result in widespread positive ma

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Dana White fearful that increased drug testing would result in widespread positive ma

Dana White said Thursday that if he were to implement year-round, random drug testing of his approximately 475 contracted fighters, more than 80 percent of them might wind up being suspended.

The drug he's concerned about, though, is not what you might think.

The outspoken UFC president reiterated his long-held position that drug testing by state athletic commissions is sufficient to police the sport. When pressed if he's considering a random, year-round drug screening process to try to eradicate performance-enhancing drugs from the UFC, White said he is not certain. He said it is something he's never considered previously.

Then, he conceded he's worried about a slew of positive tests if he did adopt such a regimen.

"Forget about PEDs," White said. "If we get into this system that we're talking about where we would randomly test these guys, do you know how many guys would probably test positive for marijuana? It would be probably off the charts.

"If you randomly test them and then [the results] came out, you'd get the exact same suspension [for using marijuana] as you do for using PEDs."

The length of the penalty for using marijuana disturbs White.

"I do not think the penalty should be the same for taking marijuana as it is for [using] performance-enhancing drugs," he said.

He's right on that point, though the the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2012 prohibited list covers that issue well. Marijuana usage is prohibited by WADA in-competition. It is not considered a violation for athletes following the WADA code if they test positive when they are not competing.